Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):
   • To delay or postpone action, especially habitually or without good reason. It implies putting off tasks that should be done, often due to avoidance, indecision, or laziness.
2. Verb (transitive, less common):
   • To postpone or delay (a task or action) needlessly.

Usage

• As an intransitive verb, "procrastinate" is most commonly used without a direct object to describe the act of delaying.
• As a transitive verb, it can take a direct object (the thing being delayed), though this usage is less frequent.

Examples

• Intransitive use:
  • He tends to procrastinate until the night before the deadline.
  • If you keep procrastinating, you'll never finish the project.
• Transitive use:
  • She procrastinated her decision until it was too late to change course.
  • He procrastinated the matter until it was almost too late.

Advanced Usage

• "Procrastinate on (something)": A common phrasal construction to specify the task being delayed.
  • I've been procrastinating on writing that report for weeks.
• Gerund/Noun form: "Procrastinating" can function as a noun-like gerund.
  • His constant procrastinating is a serious problem.

Variants and Related Words

• Procrastination (n): The action or habit of delaying or postponing something.
  • Chronic procrastination can harm your career.
• Procrastinator (n): A person who habitually delays or postpones things.
  • He's such a procrastinator; he always starts at the last minute.

Synonyms

• Delay: To make something happen at a later time.
• Postpone: To arrange for something to happen at a later time.
• Stall: To delay taking action or giving an answer.
• Dawdle: To waste time; be slow.
• Put off: (Phrasal verb) To postpone.

Antonyms

• Expedite: To make an action or process happen sooner.
• Advance: To move forward or cause to happen earlier.
• Act promptly: To take action without delay.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• "Procrastination is the thief of time.": A proverb meaning that delaying tasks wastes valuable time.
• "To be a master of procrastination": To be someone who is exceptionally skilled at putting things off.

Verb

1. postpone or delay needlessly
   • He procrastinated the matter until it was almost too late
2. postpone doing what one should be doing
   • He did not want to write the letter and procrastinated for days